Access to mobile internet will be limited in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia, for the duration of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as a safeguard, according to Sergei Aksyonov, the Governor appointed by Moscow, who made the announcement on Tuesday.

“We have to acknowledge this situation and adjust accordingly,” Aksyonov stated to the state-run news agency Sputnik. The limitations may manifest as reduced internet speeds or complete outages.

“We cannot allow our adversaries to leverage the internet against us,” he later expressed on Telegram, pointing to frequent drone strikes from Ukraine, some of which, he noted, depend on Russian mobile networks for their control.

Crimea has become the second region where authorities have publicly announced indefinite mobile internet restrictions linked to the war, following a similar announcement last month by the governor of Ulyanovsk region in central Russia.

Since early May, there have been sporadic internet outages throughout Russia, coinciding with an increase in Ukrainian drone activity, affecting most areas, including parts of Siberia and the Far East.

Officials assert that these actions are aimed at hindering drone operations.

During these outages, a “white list” of authorized services has been established to remain operational during mobile internet interruptions; however, some users have reported that these services often fail to work properly.